Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Linguistically, Al-Kawthar indicates great abundance. In Islamic terminology, it has two related meanings:
Al-Kawthar is a river that Allah تعالى granted to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Paradise. Allah تعالى says:
﴿Indeed, We have granted you Al-Kawthar.﴾
The Prophet ﷺ explained that it is a river in Paradise, saying: “It is a river which my Lord has promised me, containing abundant goodness, and it is a basin to which my Ummah will come on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by Muslim.
Among its characteristics is that its banks are made of gold, its course is over pearls and rubies, its water is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey, and its soil is more fragrant than musk.
Apparently, the River of Al-Kawthar is among the special gifts Allah تعالى granted to His Prophet ﷺ, and nothing similar has been authentically established for any other prophet.
The Hawd is a great body of water that will be at the place of gathering, where the Ummah of the Prophet ﷺ will come to drink. Water from the River of Al-Kawthar in Paradise will flow into it; therefore, it is called the Hawd of Al-Kawthar.
Many authentic hadiths describe it. Among its characteristics is that its length is a journey of one month, its water is whiter than milk and more fragrant than musk, its vessels are like the stars of the sky, and whoever drinks from it will never be thirsty afterward.
There are so many hadiths concerning the Hawd that scholars have stated that they have reached the level of mass transmission (tawatur).
Scholars differed regarding the location of the Hawd in relation to the Sirat. The stronger view is that it is before the Sirat, because some people will be prevented from reaching it and driven away. If it were after the Sirat, they could not be turned away from it after falling into Hell.
It is commonly held among scholars that the Prophet’s Hawd is exclusive to him. A hadith states: “Every prophet has a Hawd.” However, its chains of transmission are not free from weakness, although some scholars accepted it due to the number of its chains.
If this hadith is established, then the River of Al-Kawthar is the confirmed special distinction of the Prophet ﷺ, while there would be a Hawd for every prophet. If the hadith is not established, it is still possible that the Prophet’s Hawd is exclusive to him.
Not everyone who claims affiliation with the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ will necessarily be allowed to drink from the Hawd. It is authentically reported that some people will be driven away from it, and the Prophet ﷺ will be told about them: “You do not know what they introduced after you.” He will say: “Away with those who changed after me.”
Therefore, the Muslim should strive to follow the Prophet ﷺ, adhere to his Sunnah, and avoid innovations and sins, hoping to be among those who reach his Hawd and drink from it a drink after which they will never thirst again.
And Allah تعالى knows best.